Puerto Rican Woman Prisoners of War

Arm the Spirit, 9 March 1995

Did You Know That There Are 5 Puerto Rican Women Prisoners Of War
In U.S. Jails?

Alejandrina Torres, Dylcia Pagan, Alicia Rodriguez, Carmen
Valentin and Ida Luz Rodriguez follow in the footsteps of all
Puerto Rico women who believe and fight for the independence of
their homeland.

These women, as well as the Puerto Rican men political
prisoners and P.O.W.s have paid heavy prices for their love of
their nation. They are imprisoned under some of the harshest
conditions imaginable. Most are given virtual life sentences and
are imprisoned thousands of miles away from their families and
loved ones. Almost all have been subjected to sexual and physical
abuse, constant surveillance and psychological torture at the hands
of their jailers. Alejandrina Torres was held for years in the
Lexington Control Unit where she was under 24 a day video
surveillance. This control unit was condemned by various human
rights organizations, including Amnesty International and was,
eventually shut down due to a massive grassroots campaign.

Most of these women have already spent 13 years in prison for
their political actions, yet men and women who are convicted of
bombing abortion clinics have been set free on parole after serving
only two years in prison. Why then does the United States
government refuse to acknowledge the political nature of the charge
they've convicted these men and women of - seditious conspiracy. A
charge that has been used almost exclusively in the U.S. against
Puerto Rican independence fighters.

These women are artists, mothers, daughters, teachers and
community activists who are united, despite the inhumane conditions
they are forced to live under, in struggling for the independence
of Puerto Rico.

We call upon all women who believe in freedom and justice to
stand out in solidarity and demand amnesty for them now. If it is
indeed a time of change in this country, the government must begin
by recognizing the human right of freedom for the nation of Puerto
Rico and its political prisoners and prisoners of war held in the
U.S.

13 Years - Enough!

National Committee to Free Puerto Rican Political Prisoners and
Prisoners of War
112 N. California
Chicago, Illinois
60622 U.S.A.